Cruz, Kasich team up against Trump

Republican candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich announced an agreement to coordinate their efforts to prevent party front-runner Donald Trump from winning the presidential nomination.

"To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for (Ohio) Governor Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico," Jeff Roe, Cruz's campaign manager, said in a statement late Sunday night.

The Kasich campaign sent its own statement minutes later, NBC News reported.

"Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee," Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver, wrote.

Trump responded by tweeting, "Wow, just announced that Lyin' Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. Desperation!"

According to sources, Cruz's and Kasich's partnership is a recognition that Trump has a legitimate chance to earn the total 1,237 delegates through the primary process and clinch the nomination.

The alliance, which was finalised over the weekend, came after Cruz was all but mathematically eliminated from winning the nomination outright.

--IANS

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